/telnyx-import-retell

name: telnyx-import-retell
description: >-
  Import Retell AI agents into Telnyx — both single-prompt and multi-prompt
  configurations. Preserves instructions, voice settings, tools, and call
  analysis. Supports all SDK languages.
user_invocable: true
metadata:
  author: telnyx
  product: import-retell
  compatibility: "Requires a Telnyx API key and a Retell API key stored as a Telnyx integration secret."

Import Retell Agents into Telnyx

Migrate your Retell AI agents to Telnyx in minutes. The import API pulls agent configurations directly from Retell using your API key and recreates them as Telnyx AI Assistants. Both single-prompt and multi-prompt Retell agents are supported.

**Interaction model**: Collect the user's Telnyx API key and Retell API key, store the Retell key as a Telnyx integration secret, run the import, then verify. Do NOT skip the secret-creation step — the import endpoint requires a secret reference, not a raw key.

What Gets Imported

| Component | Imported? | Notes | |-----------|-----------|-------| | Instructions | Yes | Imported as-is (both single and multi-prompt) | | Greeting / first message | Yes | Maps to assistant `greeting` | | Voice configuration | Yes | Voice provider and voice ID preserved | | Dynamic variables | Yes | Default values carried over | | Tools (hangup, transfer, webhook) | Yes | Tool definitions and configurations | | MCP Server integrations | Yes | Server URLs and tool mappings | | Call analysis / insights | Yes | Mapped to `insight_settings` | | Data retention preferences | Yes | Mapped to `privacy_settings` | | Knowledge base | **No** | Must be manually added post-import | | Secrets (API keys in tools) | **Partial** | Placeholder secrets created — you must re-enter values in the Telnyx portal |

Prerequisites

1. **Telnyx API key** — get one at https://portal.telnyx.com/#/app/api-keys 2. **Retell API key** — from your Retell dashboard 3. Store the Retell API key as a Telnyx integration secret at https://portal.telnyx.com/#/app/integration-secrets

Step 1: Store Your Retell API Key as a Telnyx Secret

Before importing, store your Retell API key as an integration secret in Telnyx. Note the secret reference name (e.g., `retell_api_key`) — you'll use it in the import call.

You can create integration secrets via the Telnyx Portal under **Integration Secrets**, or via the API.

Step 2: Import All Retell Agents

Import every agent from your Retell account:

curl

curl \
  -X POST \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $TELNYX_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
  "provider": "retell",
  "api_key_ref": "retell_api_key"
}' \
  "https://api.telnyx.com/v2/ai/assistants/import"

Python

import os
from telnyx import Telnyx

client = Telnyx(api_key=os.environ.get("TELNYX_API_KEY"))

assistants = client.ai.assistants.imports(
    provider="retell",
    api_key_ref="retell_api_key",
)

for assistant in assistants.data:
    print(f"Imported: {assistant.name} (ID: {assistant.id})")

JavaScript

import Telnyx from 'telnyx';

const client = new Telnyx();

const assistants = await client.ai.assistants.imports({
  provider: 'retell',
  api_key_ref: 'retell_api_key',
});

for (const assistant of assistants.data) {
  console.log(`Imported: ${assistant.name} (ID: ${assistant.id})`);
}

Go

assistants, err := client.AI.Assistants.Imports(context.TODO(), telnyx.AIAssistantImportsParams{
    Provider:  telnyx.AIAssistantImportsParamsProviderRetell,
    APIKeyRef: "retell_api_key",
})
if err != nil {
    panic(err.Error())
}
for _, a := range assistants.Data {
    fmt.Printf("Imported: %s (ID: %s)\n", a.Name, a.ID)
}

Java

import com.telnyx.sdk.models.ai.assistants.AssistantImportsParams;
import com.telnyx.sdk.models.ai.assistants.AssistantsList;

AssistantImportsParams params = AssistantImportsParams.builder()
    .provider(AssistantImportsParams.Provider.RETELL)
    .apiKeyRef("retell_api_key")
    .build();
AssistantsList assistants = client.ai().assistants().imports(params);
assistants.getData().forEach(a ->
    System.out.printf("Imported: %s (ID: %s)%n", a.getName(), a.getId()));

Ruby

assistants = client.ai.assistants.imports(
  provider: :retell,
  api_key_ref: "retell_api_key"
)

assistants.data.each do |a|
  puts "Imported: #{a.name} (ID: #{a.id})"
end

Step 2 (Alternative): Import Specific Agents

To import only certain agents, pass their Retell agent IDs in `import_ids`:

curl

curl \
  -X POST \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $TELNYX_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
  "provider": "retell",
  "api_key_ref": "retell_api_key",
  "import_ids": ["retell-agent-id-1", "retell-agent-id-2"]
}' \
  "https://api.telnyx.com/v2/ai/assistants/import"

Python

assistants = client.ai.assistants.imports(
    provider="retell",
    api_key_ref="retell_api_key",
    import_ids=["retell-agent-id-1", "retell-agent-id-2"],
)

JavaScript

const assistants = await client.ai.assistants.imports({
  provider: 'retell',
  api_key_ref: 'retell_api_key',
  import_ids: ['retell-agent-id-1', 'retell-agent-id-2'],
});

Step 3: Verify the Import

List your Telnyx assistants to confirm the import succeeded:

curl

curl -H "Authorization: Bearer $TELNYX_API_KEY" \
  "https://api.telnyx.com/v2/ai/assistants"

Python

assistants = client.ai.assistants.list()
for a in assistants.data:
    print(f"{a.name} — {a.id} — imported: {a.import_metadata}")

JavaScript

const assistants = await client.ai.assistants.list();
for (const a of assistants.data) {
  console.log(`${a.name} — ${a.id} — imported:`, a.import_metadata);
}

Step 4: Post-Import Checklist

After importing, complete these manual steps:

1. **Re-enter secrets** — Any API keys referenced by tools were imported as placeholders. Go to https://portal.telnyx